* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Ramos
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
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Investigative Hearing - Baltimore Gas & Electric Decision Making
For the purpose of requesting leadership from Baltimore Gas & Electric (“BGE”) and the Director of the Department of Transportation come before the City Council and answer specific questions regarding BGE’s planned and emergency work in right-of-way areas, including operations and permitting protocols, communication with neighborhood associations, residents, business owners, and vehicle drivers, and coordination in effective traffic routing with City Council members and the Department of Transportation, as well as other relevant agencies.
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Recitals
BGE was established in 1816 and was the first gas and electric company in the United States. While BGE provides an important service to our city, BGE frequently does not communicate well with the Department of Transportation and City neighborhoods and businesses impacted by their work. Better communication from BGE is needed regarding the coordination of traffic, hours of work, and the impact of the work on street murals and new street scapes. BGE has been fined for significant amounts due to inadequately repairing streets after conducting their work.
It has been reported that BGE has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by blocking sidewalks and alleys during their work. BGE has also failed to communicate appropriately with business owners and residents during the installation of new gas valves regarding the placement and design of the valves, and BGE has failed to maintain a consistent level of communication with all neighborhoods where their work is being performed. The Baltimore City Council seeks to work with BGE, its contractors, and the Department of Transportation in order to create a set of guidelines that will outline how BGE can operate with the fewest possible disruptions to neighborhoods, comply with safety and ADA regulations, coordinate with DOT, and better serve Baltimore City.
In preparation for this hearing, the Baltimore City Council requests information regarding:
- the locations of planned gas and electric work by BGE for the next year, organized by City Council district;
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- BGE’s plans to avoid ADA violations during work;
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- BGE’s protocols and procedures for communicating with neighborhood associations, residents, business owners, vehicles drivers, City Council members, and DOT regarding planned projects as well as emergency work in order to better coordinate and minimize disruption;
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- BGE’s process for returning to work sites to complete sidewalks once work has been finished;
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- BGE’s process and time frames for returning to work sites to properly replace road structures rather than the creation of narrow street cuts;
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- BGE’s process for determining the valves that are placed outside of businesses and residences, specifically including how BGE will involve residents and businesses in this planning, and whether BGE has considered the use of vaults;
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- DOT’s permitting process for planned BGE work and related requirements for communications, traffic re-routing, ADA compliance, and notice regarding BGE’s planned work;
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- DOT’s process for permitting emergency BGE work, and related requirements for communications, traffic, ADA compliance and notice regarding BGE’s emergency work;
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- DOT’s process for coordinating effective traffic management with BGE; and
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- how DOT and BGE coordinate to avoid performing duplicative corrective street repairs, which can waste tax payer dollars.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council requests leadership from Baltimore Gas & Electric (“BGE”) and the Director of the Department of Transportation come before the City Council and answer specific questions regarding BGE’s planned and emergency work in right of way areas, including operations and permitting protocols, communication with neighborhood associations, residents, business owners, and vehicle drivers, and coordination in effective traffic routing with City Council members and the Department of Transportation, as well as other relevant agencies.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of the Department of Transportation, BGE’s Vice President of Government and External Affairs, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.